The testicles should be maintained at 2-4 degrees below body temperature to create optimal conditions for sperm production. In fact, the whole reason men have a scrotum is to keep their testicles “outside” of the core portion of the body, which is maintained at a consistently high body temperature. Here are a few things you can do to keep things at the right temperature.
Keep that laptop off of your lap. A common source of excessive heat to the scrotum is regular use of a laptop computer that’s been placed on the lap. The heat given off by a laptop computer is somewhat subtle and may not bother you while you’re using it, but hours of slightly increased heat in close proximity to your testicles can significantly impact your sperm production. Try placing the laptop on a table or desk surface instead of your lap. If you do continue to place it on your lap, you should at least place a pillow under the laptop to provide a buffer between the heat source and your testicles.
Limit use of saunas, hot tubs and steam rooms. Occasional use is OK, but be thoughtful about avoiding regular use of saunas, hot tubs and steam rooms. The resultant testicular hyperthermia is proven to negatively impact many aspects of sperm quality and function.
Switch to boxers. Tight underwear has long been suspected to cause testicular hyperthermia and negatively impact sperm quality. In 2018, a medical study from Harvard confirmed these suspicions and reported that men who wear tight underwear have worse sperm quality and higher FSH levels in their blood (a marker of infertility) when compared to men who wear loose boxers.
